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I <br /> APPROVED 10/15/24 MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> BUSINESS MEETING <br /> September 17, 2024 <br /> 7:00 p.m. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met for a Business Meeting on Tuesday, September <br /> 17, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center in Chapel Hill, NC. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT. Chair Jamezetta Bedford, Vice-Chair Sally Greene and <br /> Commissioners Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton, Phyllis Portie-Ascott, and Anna Richards <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioner Earl McKee <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEYS PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT. County Manager Travis Myren, Interim Deputy County Manager <br /> Caitlin Fenhagen, and Clerk to the Board Laura Jensen. (All other staff members will be identified <br /> appropriately below) <br /> Chair Bedford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. All commissioners were present, <br /> except Commissioner McKee. Chair Bedford explained that Commissioner McKee was <br /> representing the Board on a trip with the Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and is just <br /> getting back into town. <br /> 1. Additions or Changes to the Agenda <br /> None. <br /> 2. Public Comments (Limited to One Hour) <br /> a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda <br /> There was no one signed up to speak. <br /> b. Matters on the Printed Agenda <br /> (These matters will be considered when the Board addresses that item on the agenda below.) <br /> 3. Announcements, Petitions and Comments by Board Members <br /> Commissioner Richards said the ABC Board met today and received the results from their <br /> audit. She said they received a clean audit report. <br /> Commissioner Fowler said she attended the Board of Health Behavioral Health <br /> Subcommittee meeting on September 111", and received a presentation from Carl Johnson, PhD., <br /> with the UNC Gillings School of Public Health on the relationship between social media and teen <br /> mental health. She said the subcommittee with be working on recommendations for actions to <br /> take locally to combat anxiety and depression in teens as it relates to social media. She said the <br /> Board was alerted by an email from Melody Kramer that the UNC Coal Plant may switch to <br /> incinerating pellets that may potentially PFAS. She petitioned staff to further investigate this recent <br /> proposal by UNC and how the Board can best voice their concerns. She said she would like to <br /> know if there is research already available that can characterize the safety or danger associated <br /> with the incineration of PFAS. She said from her understanding, it looks like it requires extremely <br /> high temperatures to destroy PFAS and that incineration may disperse them instead. She said <br /> this is being studied by multiple agencies and there doesn't seem to be clear evidence yet to <br /> ensure the safety of this proposed new process. She said after hearing from staff, she would like <br /> the Board to consider sending a letter to UNC during their public comment period, and possibly <br /> hold a public hearing at a Board meeting as well. <br />